I agree this is an excruciating case, and presumably an excruciating decision for the husband to make. But in our society, it is his decision, and it is he and no one else, who has to live with it.

The decision never should have been taken out of the husband's hands. Under US and Florida law, he is the only person with the legal standing to act on behalf of Terri Schiavo. There has never been any evidence of him abusing or neglecting her. She received physical therapy for quite some time after being diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state. He sued for malpractice on her behalf, won a settlement that has been used to pay for her medical care, and didn't try to have the feeding tube disconnected for 8 years.

He has come to terms with his wife's permanent state with no hope of recovery, and has done as well by her as I think is humanly possible.

Like I said, this is a decision that should have been between Michael Schiavo and his wife's doctors. Not the parents, and certainly not the state--and ESPECIALLY not the feds.

These decisions belong with the families, even when we don't feel comfortable with the family member who has the legal right to make the decision. Life is full of these sorts of excruciating life and death decisions. This case is no different.